2012 SSA rule survey

Dear current SSA Contest Committee:

Kudos to the rules committee for dealing with a very difficult and thankless task. Your service is appreciated.

The "drive engine" of any racing is all about being better than your fellow competitors. Sad to say but very true, some will go to any length to be the better. Thankfully, our SSA competition rules attempt to hold USA sailplane racing in check.

Much of the 2012 rule survey addresses the use of technology such as radios, AHRS, Flarms, and cell phone capabilities available both now and to come.

So, as always, it becomes an issue of how one’s integrity chooses to use a tool. ARHS is a very complex issue…used correctly it is a life saver; used incorrectly it is cheating and quite possibly a life taker. Regardless of which way it is used, other than scrutineering a sailplane and patting down the pilot just before launch, how is the SSA going to control its use? And least forget, is the SSA willing to defend the liability of “outlawing” a universally proven safety technology such as AHRS?

I opine the SSA will not succeed in suppressing technology and therefore sailplane racing rules should not be encumbered with unenforceable rules or a structure pushing the burden of “ground” volunteers closer to ending any interest or effort. Many say that point has already passed and IMHO, recent contests prove this true.

May your soaring flights be safe.